Colostomy unit



March 7, 1961 w. s. PLYMALE, JR 2,973,759

COLOSTOMY UNIT Filed Nov. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Iii/imiP/w/M w w-n;

ATTORNEYS.

March 7, 1961 w. s. PLYMALE, JR

COLOSTOMY UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16, 1956 coLosroMY UNITWilliam S. Plymale, Jr., 613 'N. Overlook Drive, Alexandria, Va.; Mrs.William S. Plymale, Jr., heir and guardian of minor heir of said WilliamS. Plymale, Jr., deceased Filed Nov. 16,'1 956, Ser. No. 622,551 3Claims. (Cl. 128-283) Devices of the character generally designated inthe medical profession as colostomy apparatus are designed for use bypersons who have'had a colostomy operation 'which prevents the naturaluse of the colon for evacuation purposes. Heretofore, colostomyapparatus to enable drainage from the body following such operations hasbeen used. Area for improvement in such devices ited States Patent hasbeen recognized, however, particularly in relation to 1 the convenienceand comfort of such appliances to the wearer, the effectiveness oftheseal between the apparatus and the body, and the adaptability of theappliance to be modified for performance of irrigation procedures;

The object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of anovel and improved colostomy appliance which can be applied to the bodyto fit over a stoma and effectively hold a disposable bag or the like inproper position to receive the discharge," which unit may be held on thebody by a body-encirclinglbelt and'may be adjusted to properly fit thecontour of the body.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of novelcolostomy apparatus which facilitates performance of several dilferentfunctions-in connection with the stoma. 7

Another object of the present invention is the provision of novelcolostomy apparatus having a foundation portion adapted to becomfortably adjusted over the stoma in sealed relation with the body ofthe wearer,

which is readily adaptable to support either a flexible bag forreceiving the discharge or irrigation apparatus for irrigating thestoma. Y

Another object of the present invention is theprovision of a novelirrigation attachmentfor use in connection with colostomy applianceswhich facilitates conduct of the irrigation procedures witha minimum ofundesired seepage of fluids.

Other objects, advantages, and capabilities of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detail description, taken. inconjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating preferredembodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a colostomy appliance embodying thepresent invention, with an. irrigation attachment for use with patientsin a sitting position associ ated therewith;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section view taken along the line2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section view taken along the line 3-3of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal transverse section view taken along the line4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the constructionof the valve associated with the irri gation attachment of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a perspective'v'iew of a colostomy appliance employing thefoundation disk of the type illustrated in Figure 1, with a flexible bagrcleasably supported thereon;

Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal section view taken along the line 77of Figure 6;

Figure 8'is a vertical transverse section view taken along the line8-8of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal section view of the colostomyshowing an irrigation attachment for use with patients in a recliningposition associated therewith; and

Figure 10 is an elevation view of the mounting ring for releasablysupporting the irrigation attachments onto the foundation disk.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the, several figures, the colostomyapparatus of the present invention, generally indicated by the referencecharacter 10, includes a foundation disk 11 comprising a flexiblesupporting plate 12 adapted to be held against the body of the wearer bymeans of a conventional adjustable facing surface of the neck region 16is of arcuate conrounding relation with the foundation disk ring 15.

cave configuration, as indicated at 18, extending from the supportingplate 12 and terminating at the rim 17. The radially inwardly facingsurface 19 of the ring 15 is of S-shaped configuration in cross sectionfor a purpose to be later described. The foundation disk 11 ispreferably molded from Teflon, or some equivalent material, and isetched on the inner surface 20 of the supporting plate 12 by a suitablechemical process to increase the force of adhesion between this surfaceand the adhesive of the conventional sealing disk interposed between thesupporting plate 12 and the body of the wearer when the foundation diskis mounted in position for use. 7

r In normal use, the foundation disk 11 supports a suitable flexible bag21 of polyethylene, or other suitable plastic material, which is sealedor otherwise closed at the bottom and along the sides' thereof and isprovided with an upwardly opening end 22. The upwardly opening end 22'ofthe flexible bag 21 is supported in surrounding'relation to the ring 15of the foundation disk 11 by means of an annular retaining collar 23which is preferably formed of Teflon, or'like material. The retainingcollar 23 comprises an annular body portion 24 from which projectintegral flexible fingers 25 whose radially inwardly disposed endsdefine an opening 26 which corresponds substantially in diameter to theminimum diameter of the neck region 16 of the ring 15. Diametricallyoppositely extending peripheral projections 27 are also formed on theretaining .collar 23 to facilitate manual adjustmentof the retainingcollar 23 relative to the foundation disk 11. i l

To assemble the flexible bag 21 onto the foundation disk 11, the.upwardly opening end 22 of the flexible bag 21 is first projectedthrough the opening 26 in the retaining collar 23 while the retainingcollar is separated from the foundation disk, and then the retainingcollar 23 and flexible bag 21 are shifted together over the rim 17 ofthe foundation disk'ring 15 until the flexible fingers 25 snap over therim 17 and resiliently force the neck region of the bag 21 immediatelyadjacent the end 22 thereof of the flexible fingers 25 thereaftermaintains the neck region of the flexible bag. 21 in intimatelycontacting surf .The inherent resiliency- In Figures 1-5 of the drawingsthere is shown an irrigation attachment, generally indicated by thereference character 28 which is adapted to be associated with thefoundation disk 11 for use by patients in a sitting position. Theirrigation attachment 28 comprises an elbow tube 29 of Plexiglas or likematerial having an upper horizontal portion 30 and a lower dependingportion 31 whose axes are disposed at right angles to each other. Theportions 30 and 31 are connected by a smoothly curved intermediateportion 32. The upper horizontal portion 30 terminates in an especiallyformed end adapted to mate precisely with the confronting surfaces ofthe foundation disk ring to provide an effective seal against passage offluids at the interface between these components. To this end, the endof the upper horizontal portion of the elbow tube 29 comprises anannularshoulder 33 which lies in a vertical plane and conforms precisely to theannular confronting surface of the foundation disk 11 lying between therim 17 thereof and the outer end of the opening 14. Projecting from theannular shoulder 33 is an annular lip 34 which surrounds the centralbore of the elbow tube 29 and is shaped along its radially outwardsurface to mate precisely with the outer portions of the S-shapedsurface 19 of the foundation disk ring 15. Spaced slightly back from theannular shoulder 33 and in coplanar relation therewith is a peripheraloutwardly opening groove 35 which extends entirely around the upperelbow tube portion 30 and is formed in the outer wall thereof. Thisgroove 35 is adapted to receive the legs 36, 37 of a stainless steelclip 38 adapted to releasably clamp the elbow tube 29 onto thefoundation disk ring 15. The legs 36, 37 of the clip 38 are joined attheir upper ends, as indicated at 39 and terminate in reversely curvedends 40 to facilitate slipping of the clip 38 into position in thegroove 35. Integral right angle fingers 41 project from the legs 36, 37to extend behind the lip 17 of the foundation disk ring 15 and hold theshoulder 33 of the elbow tube 29 intimately against the confrontingsurface of the foundation disk ring.

The opposite end 42 of the elbow tube 28 at the lower end of thedepending portion 31 is deformed into a substantially tear-shaped crosssection, as illustrated in Figure 4, and is adapted to receive aflexible tube 43 of polyethylene or other suitable plastic thereof whichis frictionally retained thereon by means of a rubber band 44 tofacilitate conduction of the discharge to a suitable receptacle.

In the intermediate portion 32 of the elbow tube 29 is an opening 45covered underneath by a flap valve 46 of special design, as illustratedin Figure 5, which comprises a pair of small rectangular vinylite orother suitable flexible plastic sheets 47 and 48 which are cementedtogether and to the bounding surfaces of the opening 45 and have a smallhole 49 and a rectangular fitting 50 of polyethylene or like flexibleplastic forming the movable valve member which is disposed in underlyingrelation to the sheets 47 and 48 and is aflixed thereto along the upperend thereof, as indicated at 51.

When the nozzle of the catheter or other irrigation device, indicatedschematically at 52in Figure 2, is projected through the opening 45 andthrough the deformable hole 49 in the valve member sheets 47 and 48, itflexes the valve member 50 out of intercepting relation with thecatheter nozzle to permit projection of the nozzle into the stomaopening and effect irrigation of the stoma. Upon withdrawal of thecatheter nozzle from the opening 45, the valve member 50 is flexed byits own internal resiliency into intimate surface contact with the sheet48 to close the hole 49 against passage of fluid therethrough when thefluid is discharged from the stoma. Since the direction of fluiddischarge from the stoma is against the under side of the valve member50, the discharged fluid urges the valve member 50' into more intimatecontact with the adjacent sheet 48. of the .valve to facilitatemaintenance of the seal at the opening 45.

There is illustrated in Figure 9 a modified irrigation attachment,indicated generally by the reference character 53, which is designed tofacilitate conduct of the irrigation procedures when the patient is in areclining position. The irrigation attachment 53 comprises a straighttube 54 of Plexiglas or like material having its forward end, generallyindicated by the reference character 55, configurated in precisely thesame manner as the end of the upper portion 30 of the elbow tube 28 tofacilitate attachment of the tube 54 in sealing relation with thefoundation disk ring 15 by means of the clip 38 in the same manner as isdescribed above.

The opposite end 56 is cut along a plane inclined away from theperpendicular plane of the axis of the tube 54. A flexible polyvinyltube 57, which is open at both ends, is adapted to be frictionallysupported over the end 56 of the tube 54 by means of a rubber band 58,and a flap valve-assembly 59 corresponding exactly to the structure ofthe flap valve 46 is provided in the flexible tube 57 underlying acatheter opening 60 therein.

It will be seen that by the above construction, the

colostomy appliance can be adapted for irrigation of the stoma withoutremoval of the foundation disk from the body of the wearer bywithdrawing the retaining collar 23 and the flexible bag '21 from thering 15 and supporting either the irrigation attachment 28 or theirrigation attachment 53 on the foundation disk ring 15 in the mannerdescribed above. By having an elongated flexible tube 57, which isapproximately 15 inches in length and which carries a flap valve 59 onthe tube 57 in the irrigation attachment 53, the discharge from thestoma can be conveniently conducted to the side of the patient into asuitable receptacle, while the particular design of the irrigationattachment 28 is specially adapted to facilitate conduct of theirrigation procedure by the patient in a sitting position. There has,therefore, been disclosed a colostomy apparatus which greatlyfacilitates performance of the varied functions which are required inconnection with proper care of colostomy patients.

While several preferred embodiments of the invention have beenparticularly shown and described, it is distinctly understood that theinvention is not limited thereto but that various modifications may bemade in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof, and

it is desired therefore, that only such limitations shall be placedthereon-as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Colostomy irrigation, apparatus comprising a foundation disk having aplate portion to be disposed adjacent the body of a wearer and anannular supporting ring projecting from the plate'portion away from thewearer and having an aperture extending therethrough to accommodate astoma, the ring having an annular surface bounding said aperture andfacing inwardly toward the axis thereof which is curved in cross-sectionand progresses outwardly from the wearer and from the axis of theaperture, an irrigation attachment removably coupled to said foundationdisk comprising a rigid tubular member having right angularly relatedend portions terminating in open opposite ends and a curved intermediateportion interconnecting said end portions, one of said end portionshaving an annular lip portion at one end thereof projecting into theaperture of said supporting ring and shaped to mate precisely with thecurved annular surface of said supporting ring to effect fluid-sealingbetween said tubular member and said ring, said tubular member having anaperture in the wall of said intermediate portion positioned closelyadjacent to the projected axis of the aperture of said supporting ringto admit a catheter nozzle therethrough into a stoma located in saidsupporting ring aperture, a normally closed flap valve of flexiblematerial supported on said tubular wall in underlying relation to saidaperturertherein deformable toward said supporting ring by the catheternozzle to admit said nozzle through said tubular aperture and positionedin the path of discharge of fluid from said stoma to be urged in a valveclosing direction by said fluid discharge, and means for releasablysecuring said tubular member in supported relation on said supportingring.

2. Colostomy irrigation apparatus comprising a foundation disk having aplate portion to be disposed adjacent the body of the wearer and anannular supporting ring projecting from the plate portion away from thewearer and having an aperture extending therethrough to accommodate astoma, said ring including an annular lip spaced from said plate portionand disposed in parallelism therewith and an annular planar surfacenormal to the axis of said aperture at the edge of said lip remote fromsaid plateportion, the ring having an annular surface bounding saidaperture and facing inwarly toward the axis thereof which issubstantially S-shaped in section to be disposed in sealing engagementand progressing outwardly from the wearer and from the axis of theaperture, an irrigation attachment removably coupled to said foundation'disk comprising a rigid tubular member having right angularly relatedend portions terminating in open opposite ends and a curved intermediateportion interconnecting said end portions, one of said end portionshaving an annular lip portion at one end thereof projecting into theaperture of said supporting ring and shaped to mate precisely with saidS-shaped annular surface of said supporting ring and having an annularplanar shoulder extending perpendicular to the axis of the lip portionabutting said annular surface of said ring, said tubular member havingan aperture in the wall of said intermediate portion positioned closelyadjacent to the projected axis of the aperture of said supporting ringto admit a catheter nozzle therethrough into 'a stoma located in saidsupporting ring aperture, a normally closed flap valve of flexiblematerial supported on said tubular wall in underlying relation to saidaperture therein deformable toward said supporting ring by the catheternozzle to admit said a nozzle through said tubular aperture andpositioned in the path of discharge of fluid from said stoma to be urgedin a valve closing direction by said fluid discharge, said tubularmember having an' annular outwardly opening groove in the surfacethereof spaced slightly from said annular shoulder and disposed in theplane paralleling the plane of said shoulder, and a resilient clampreleasably supporting said tubularmember on said-supporting ring havinga body portion which is slidably receivable in said annular groove andfingers which project into clamping relation with the lip of saidsupporting ring.

3. Colostomy irrigation. apparatus comprising a foun-t dation diskhaving a plateportion to be disposed adjacent thebody of the wearer andan annular supporting ring projecting from the plate portion away fromthe wearer and having an aperture extending therethrough to accommodatea stoma, said ring including an annular lip spaced from said plateportion and disposed in parallelism therewith and an annular planarsurface normal to the axis of said aperture at the edge of said lipremote from said plate portion, the ring having an annular surfacebounding said aperture and facing inwardly toward the axis thereof whichis substantially S-shaped in section to be disposed in sealingengagement and progressing outwardly from the wearer and from the axisof the aperture, an irrigation attachment removably coupled to saidfoundation disk comprising a tubular member having open opposite ends, alip portion at one end thereof projecting into the aperture of saidsupporting ring and shaped to mate precisely with the S-shaped annularsurface of said supporting ring, an annular planar shoulder extendingperpendicular to the axis of the lip portion disposed in intimatelyabutting relation to said annular planar surface of said supporting ringwhen said lip portion of said tubular member is projected into saidaperture in mating engagement with said S-shaped annular surface, saidtubular member having an aperture in the wall of the portion thereofintermediate the ends of the tubular member and positioned closelyadjacent to the projected axis of the aperture of said supporting ringto admit a catheter nozzle therethrough into a stoma located in saidsupporting ring aperture, a normally closed flap valve of flexiblematerial supported on the wall of said tubular member in underlyingrelation to said aperture therein deformable toward said supporting ringby the catheter nozzle to admit said nozzle through the aperture insaidtubular member and positioned in the path of discharge of fluid fromsaid stoma to be urged in a valve closing direction by said fluiddischarge, and means for releasably securing said tubular member insupported relation on said supporting ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHERREFERENCES Journal of the, American Medical Association, vol; 159, No.12, Nov. 19, 1955, Div. 55, Class 128-283.)

p. 1201-1202. (Copy in

